"Konoha? A mission? What the hell are you talking about?"

I finished up and stood. "I'll explain the details later. Essentially an inside correspondence has informed Sasuke of an opportunity that cannot be missed and we need to act immediately."

"An insider? Who is it?"

"I don't know, Sasuke didn't say."

Suigetsu looked discomforted, but I ignored him and he asked no further questions. I just wanted to get this over with. I picked up the items Sasuke had given me for the mission, secured in a bag, and we left.

…

"Are you positive? Why would they choose now to take action?"

"I have one theory, perhaps the former members that have joined us have not exactly left. There is a great possibility that there is at least one spy among them."

"You interviewed them yourself, my lady. And they were seen by the head of Black Ops and by the head of interrogation. I doubt Ibiki would have missed anything."

"I' just saying that it is the most likely scenario. I trust you Kakashi, possibly more than anyone in Konoha, I want you to keep an eye on them while we reinforce our borders."

"Yes my lady," I agreed, but I was not convinced that Itachi, Konan, Kisame or Deidara were connected to the two members spotted near a small town near the border of the Land of Fire.

I walked immediately to the ANBU headquarters and then to the cellblock.

Itachi sat, as always, on the bed with his legs crossed and his eyes closed.

"Itachi, I need to talk with you."

He opened his eyes and looked at me blankly.

"Once again I apologize for how long it is taking to arrange your release. The elders refuse to listen to anything Tsunade and I say. Without their consent we cannot view the evidence you say exists."

"I know," he smoothly uncrossed his legs and stood up, "but that isn't why you are here is it?"

Standing a mere three feet from me I saw how ill he was. Even with care from the ANBU medics, he was dying. "Are you eating?"

"That is not why you came either."

I sighed, "What is the chance that one of the people who came with you is a spy?"

Itachi crossed his arms and sized me up for a minute. "I don't think any of them are. Kisame definitely not, he left because he wanted to remain with me. The Akatsuki was of no meaning to him. Konan was dismissed by the leader, which would raise suspicion directed at her, but she wouldn't. Nagato is sincere in trying to save her and her child, he would ask her to do something so risky and she would take no orders from anyone but Nagato. Deidara…" he lowered his brow. "I've never been able to figure why he joined us. Deidara is in things for himself, unless he was offered something that would benefit him, he wouldn't do it."

"And if he had a motive, his jutsu would be more than effective to wipe out a large area."

"What do you know?"

I looked behind me, the guard was a ways away, but I stepped closer to the bars. "Two men were spotted near the border of the country. Near where we gather the Akatsuki hideout is. They are heading in this direction. We believe an attack on the village is underway."

Itachi nodded and put all of this together.

"So you say that Kisame and Konan are fine, but if there is one to be suspected it is Deidara correct?"

"Yes," Itachi still looked troubled.

"I need to leave now. There is a gathering that will be held in two days. There I will try to convince the elders again to release the information on the Uchiha massacre."

He nodded and turned around without saying anything more. I watched him sit down again and close his eyes.

As I left I turned to the guard. "Hey, can you make sue he is being taken proper care of?"

"We are doing all we can for him."

I nodded and left. I was positive Itachi was telling the truth. I was sure that he wasn't completely guilty of the massacre and also that none of the former Akatsuki members were spies.

But why would the Akatsuki make a move? What was the motive? One thing I knew, I had to make sure Naruto stayed in the village and was not informed on any of this. He was a short fuse and would likely do something drastic.

These are troubled times.

…

A girl.

My little girl.

I stood in front of the mirror in my bathroom, fresh out of the shower. I viewed my belly, my hand caressing it slowly.

I want a family, as every woman at one point or another does. I have a child; Tsunade placed the due date a little under two weeks from today. I smiled with the excitement.

I wrapped a towel around myself and walked out into my bedroom. Tsunade had given me plenty of money to buy things I would need. A crib, baby clothes, some new clothes for myself, bottles, binkies, blankets, pillows, a sling for making carrying my daughter easier.

I dried myself and changed into a dress I had bought myself. It was pale purple and designed especially for pregnant women. It seemed silly to buy something to wear for only a couple weeks, but I felt better in a new change of clothes and especially maternity ones. I felt…normal?

I smiled at myself as I slipped on my shoes. What was normal? Was it living with my parents as a child? Fitting into society? People still looked at me as a stranger in the village, but they were all very friendly.

I left, out for a walk. The sun and sweet scented breeze here was comforting. I walked to a path I had become familiar with. It followed a river, running through a series of small hills before disappearing into the woods. I walked and breathed in the fresh air.

It was a warm day and as I walked along the river I would see children playing along its shore. After I hadn't seen any kids for a while, I began letting my thoughts drift. I let myself imagine both if Nagato could once again restore the Akatsuki properly, and if he died, like he was so convinced he would.

My thoughts were interrupted when the sound of a child playing retuned. I looked and recognized the little boy immediately. I waved to Fuyu and his father, who sat watching him under a tree.

"Hello," I walked over to Zabuza who nodded to me, not taking his eyes off of his son for more than a second. "It's a pretty nice day isn't it?"

"Yea, kinda too warm for my liking."

"Really? It isn't very warm really." I looked up at the sky; small white clouds dotted the blue atmosphere.

"Well, I've always preferred cooler weather."

"Hm, I suppose being from the Mist and all that would be normal." I continued to watch the sky, not really trying to think of anything else to say, I just didn't really what to leave just yet.

"So what are you up to?
"Just taking a walk, the day looked so inviting I couldn't pass it up."

"Hm…" I looked back down at him. Zabuza had his elbows resting on his knees, his hands folded in front of his face, watching Fuyu play on the bank.

I sat down next to him. Finally Zabuza took his eyes off of his son for a little bit longer. He looked me over for a moment, his dark eyes resting on my face for a moment before returning to Fuyu.

"So when are you having the baby?"

"A little under two weeks."

He nodded, "Do you mind me asking who the father is?"

"No," I didn't answer right away. Thinking about this, what if telling him was a bad idea? What if Nagato died? What if he refused to associate with me to protect our child? "I left him behind."

Zabuza had no answer, he just continued watching Fuyu. The little boy was stacking stones along the water's edge. Making a wall or a castle or a bridge, something children do I suppose. They always have big dreams to fill.

I then remembered that Zabuza had told me about Fuyu's mother abandoning their son with him. "I guess I'm in the same boat as you." He looked at me without moving anything but his eyes. It was a very intense look, yet his eyes were peaceful. "I mean, you were left with Fuyu and I'm now left with my daughter…I'm sorry, I guess that was rude. I'm just trying to make conversation."

He stared at me for so long I decided to turn and watch Fuyu. The boy had abandoned his structure and was now picking small flowers in the grass nearby. Zabuza moved, he leaned back against the trunk of the tree.

"A daughter huh? Congratulations," he looked back at me in the same way he did back at the hideout. I turned away, damning my heart for being so easily stimulated.

"Thank you," I couldn't think of anything to say and I didn't dare turn back because I could still feel his eyes on me.

Luckily Fuyu came running up with a fistful of wildflowers.

"Here," He held them out to me.

"Thank you," I held them gingerly.

"Do you want to go home now Fuyu? Its getting to be near lunch time."

"Can we eat somewhere today?"

"Hm," Zabuza looked at him for a minute. Fuyu stuck out his lip in an attempt to look as pitiful as possible. "I suppose, but dad's getting a little low on money."

"Yay," Fuyu threw his arms around his father's neck.

Zabuza looked over at me, "Do you want to come?"

"It's okay, I think I..."

"No, please come, please!" Fuyu turned towards me and tried his little begging technique.

"Well, looks like you cannot refuse now."

I smiled, "okay, lunch it is."